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• Ortom sympathises, condemns incessant abduction of clergymen
Unidentified gunmen yesterday kidnapped four Catholic priests, wounding
others in a brazen broad day attack that has sent shivers down the spine
of the survivors who were lucky to escape.
The abducted priests include Rev. Fr. Victor Adigboluja of Ijebu Ode
Diocese, Rev. Fr. Anthony Otegbola, Abeokuta Diocese, Rev. Fr. Joseph
Idiaye, Benin Archdiocese and Rev. Fr. Obadjere Emmanuel of the Diocese
of Warri.

Speaking with The Guardian on the condition of anonymity, one of the
priests who escaped, said they were all returning from their annual
class meeting that held in Warri between Monday, November 5 and Tuesday
November 6, which incidentally marked their 10th year priestly
anniversary.
“Thereafter, we moved over to the Seminary Of All Saints,
Uhiele-Ekpoma, our Alma Mater, to celebrate with the Seminary community
as part of the alumni events for this year. After the successful
completion of the meeting in Warri on Tuesday evening and while we were
going back to Ekpoma between Agbor and Umutu in Delta State, these
fierce-looking and heavily armed men suddenly burst out of the bush and
started firing at our bus. While some managed to escape from their evil
clutches, unfortunately, four of our brothers were whisked away to an
unknown location.”

He went on to ask everyone to pray for their safe and timely release,
adding that attacks of this nature against the Catholic church have
become one too many. The priest said the abductors were yet to make
contact, reminding, however, that the Catholic Church does not encourage
payment of ransom to free kidnapped victims.
He expressed worries that the clergy has become endangered species as
innocent and harmless priests and nuns have become ready targets for
men of the underworld.

This latest kidnap is coming a week after four reverend sisters were
kidnapped along the Benin expressway as they were returning from a
burial in the east. Till date, the church has refused to disclose how
much was paid to secure their release.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Delta State
command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed the kidnap but could not give
further details. Aniamaka said it was not yet ascertained if the victims
were kidnapped in Delta State or at Urhonigbe in neighbouring Edo
State, adding however that investigation was in progress to unravel the
circumstances of the kidnap and bring the perpetrators to book.

Meanwhile, the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has condemned the
kidnaping of the four priests. Ortom, in a statement signed by his Chief
Press Secretary, Terver Akase, described the abduction as barbaric,
dehumanizing and shameful.
While unconfirmed reports claim the victims were abducted by
suspected herdsmen, the governor wondered why armed herdsmen have chosen
to make harmless clergymen targets of attacks, and stressed that the
motive of the perpetrators is clearly beyond mere grazing of cattle.
According to the governor, the people of Benue are still mourning the
killing of two Catholic priests and 17 worshippers by herdsmen in
Mbalom, Gwer East Local Government Area of the state earlier this year.

He urged security agencies to act swiftly to ensure the release of
the kidnapped priests and called on other Nigerians to rise in
condemnation of persistent attacks on innocent people, particularly the
current spate of violence against the clergy.